Sabres' Play Improving, but Injuries Are Stinging
As the Sabres' 5v5 play improves, one of their top defensemen goes down with season-ending surgery.
Welcome to The Hockey Writers Buffalo Sabres newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Sabres writers.
In today’s edition, we have articles on the Sabres’ ever-improving 5v5 play and Mattias Samuelsson’s injury, and a historical piece about the Sabres’ Hall of Fame-worthy players that haven’t been given the honor yet. It would be great if you’d share the THW Substack with your friends and family so that they can subscribe and enjoy all the latest.
Sabres’ 5-on-5 Improvements Are Noticeable
February 7, 2024 by Michael Golden
The Buffalo Sabres didn’t get off to the start they wanted this season. During the first two months, nothing seemed to go their way. They suffered injuries, lacked defensive structure, and had inconsistent goaltending and scoring. However, they have slowly improved their play at even strength over the past month and a half. Their defense, offense, and goaltending have all ranked in the top half of the league since Dec. 21, resulting in a respectable 9-6-1 record since then. Unfortunately, the Sabres’ putrid power play has prevented them from reaching another gear.
Sabres’ Mattias Samuelsson to Miss Remainder of Season
February 4, 2024 by JP Gambatese
Sunday afternoon, it was revealed that Buffalo Sabres’ defenseman Mattias Samuelsson will miss the remainder of the season with an upper-body injury that will require surgery. This comes as yet another injury blow to a Sabres team that has been ravaged by bumps and bruises, including an announcement just six days ago that Jack Quinn would miss eight or more weeks with lower-body surgery.
In Samuelsson, the Sabres will be down one of their top-four defensemen who was capable of eating hard minutes at even strength and on the penalty kill. The 23-year-old was on pace to score 13 points, which would be a career-high for the shutdown defenseman.
5 Sabres Who Should Be in Team’s Hall of Fame
September 15, 2023 by Matthew Morris (Sabres’ History)
After it sat defunct for nine years, the Buffalo Sabres re-activated their Hall of Fame last season so that Ryan Miller could be inducted when his number was retired in January. It remains unclear if this was just a one-time-only occasion or if the team plans on further inductions in the future.
Since it was founded in 1980, a total of 43 members have been enshrined. Many of them were some of the greatest players to put on a Sabres jersey, including the likes of the French Connection, Dave Andreychuk, Pat LaFontaine, and Dominik Hasek. Numerous key off-ice figures, like broadcaster Rick Jeanneret and founders Seymour and Northrup Knox, have received the honor as well.
However, there are also a number of notable absences. If the Sabres do decide to keep it open for the future, they will have a number of worthy candidates to choose from. The following five might stand out the most.
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